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News Release

eQuorum Releases Major ImageSite Workflow Version

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - October 15, 2010-Quorum Corporation today announced major enhancements to the ImageSite Workflow module.

ImageSite Workflow User Interface Enhancements

User Interface improvements to ImageSite Workflow enable all commonly accessed features of the product from the front tab which contains the flowchart diagram. ImageSite Workflow continues to utilize a two-tab display, with the flow chart diagram on the front tab and the workflow history on the back tab. These enhancements make it more convenient for users to perform most common functions such as advancing a workflow, delegating, adding comments and attaching additional documents.

Workflow Milestones (Deadlines)

ImageSite Workflow now supports deadlines based upon the date/time that a step is advanced, in addition to the previous capability to base deadlines on an overall workflow starting date/time. This allows workflows to be configured with a mix of deadlines, some fixed by date or a time span from the start date, and some which vary based upon when a workflow is advanced from one user to another.

Flexible Workflow Enhancements

ImageSite Workflow automates important business and engineering processes so that users are automatically notified of required activities, and these activities don't "fall through the cracks" since reminders are provided when workflow actions are late. ImageSite Workflow uses a series of inter-related flowchart steps, where each step has:

Title
Description
Users or Groups
Deadline

ImageSite Workflow automatically notifies users at each step (by email), telling them that they have work to perform. Pending work is also listed in each user's workflow Inbox. Users complete their assignments using linked documents and the broad range of ImageSite's collaboration features.

Prior to this release, ImageSite workflows were rigidly defined such that each step was required to have a fixed title, description, deadline and user(s). While this approach enabled ImageSite Workflow to address many business processes, it was difficult to for ImageSite Workflow to address some dynamic business processes where users, instructions, and deadlines must vary from one instance of a workflow to another.

Enhancements provided in this release of ImageSite Workflow allow a "flexible workflow", for automation of a broader range of business processes. These enhancements for greater flexibility in defining workflows allow users within each workflow to interactively assign step titles, descriptions (instructions), deadlines, and the users expected to perform tasks at each step. With these enhancements, ImageSite Workflow now supports very structured, semi-structured, or unstructured document routing or business processes.

Improved Workflow Security

Security Profiles defined using in ImageSite Access (security) settings can be used to assign security rules to workflows. These settings are made in the Workflow Category definition and include which Security Profiles (composed of individual Users or Groups) can Originate (Initiate/Launch) and/or View each Workflow Category.

For example, the new security settings allow a unique workflow to be defined and assigned directly to a particular vendor for document submittals, so that documents submitted by that vendor are routed directly to the correct users within an organization.

Or for example, an RFP (Request for Proposal) transmittal workflow could be defined which lists all of the vendors authorized to receive a particular type of RFP. Security settings could be made so that only authorized purchasing staff can initiate this RFP workflow.

Variable User Assignment

In the definition of a workflow, users (or groups) are assigned to each step. New options allow user(s) to be defined for each step as "Fixed", "Variable", or both at any step of a workflow. Prior to this release, ImageSite Workflow only supported Fixed Users who were assigned directly to each step without options.

"Variable User(s)" are the list of possible users at any step. When variable users are defined in a workflow step, the user who is advancing the issue to that step is prompted to select and assign one or more users for that step from the list of variable users. Only users assigned in this way participate in the workflow issue.

For example, an engineering change request workflow can contain a step to make changes to a CAD file. The workflow configuration can include the Group "CAD Designers" as variable users at this step. During each issue, the CAD Manager will select (assign) a particular designer from the list of all designers to perform the work for each issue.

Active or Supervisor Users

Users assigned to a step, either as fixed users or users who are selected and assigned from a list of variable users may be Active or Supervisors.

Active user(s) are typically expected to perform assigned tasks at any steps and then advance the workflow to the next step when their tasks are complete. Active users can also delegate their step to other users, allowing those users to instead perform the tasks and advance the workflow to the next step for them, or perform the task and advance the workflow back to them so that they can review the delegated work prior to advancing the workflow themselves.

Supervisor user(s) are intended to observe or supervise the activities going on at any step in a workflow. Supervisor users can be configured to receive all email notifications about the workflow that they are a part of, but are not expected, required or able to advance the workflow from step to step. In turn, the workflow itself does not "wait" for supervisor users to advance workflows; it allows them to simply receive notifications and review the progress of workflows to which they are assigned.

A new ImageSite Workflow Inbox display filter has been provided to allow users to conveniently review workflows to which they are assigned. The new inbox filter will display workflows for each user with the following settings:

All Workflows

Active Workflows

Supervisor Workflows.

Variable Step Title

Step titles can be defined for each step of each workflow but can be configured as variable, allowing the active user who is advancing an issue to this step to override the default step title.

For example, a "generic" two-step workflow can be defined which submits a question to another user (or group of users) and requires confirming response. The step title in this situation can be left blank and configured as a variable title so that the user who is advancing the issue to this step will be prompted to provide a title.

Variable Step Description

Step Descriptions (instructions) can be defined for each step of each workflow but can be configured as variable, allowing the active user who is advancing an issue to this step to override the default step description.

As in the example above, the step description can be left blank and defined as a variable description in the workflow configuration. Users advancing the workflow to this step will be prompted to enter a step description which is commonly used to provide instructions or information about the workflow step.

Variable Step Deadline

Step Deadline (instructions) can be defined for each step of each workflow but can be configured as variable, allowing the active user who is advancing an issue to this step to override the default step deadline.

As in the example as above, the step deadline can be left blank and defined as a variable deadline in the workflow configuration. Users advancing the workflow to this step will be prompted to enter a step deadline.

Assign Step To Originating User

ImageSite workflows can be configured to so that the user who originated (submitted or launched) the workflow (issue) is an active or supervisor participant at any step of the workflow. Since the originating user is typically one of many possible users, it is often not possible to define this use as a traditional "fixed" user. Instead, the Originating User is special type of variable user.

As in the example as above, a workflow is defined to submit a change request. The first user in this workflow is expected to evaluate the request, gather all supporting documentation, and then forward the request to a manager for review and approval. This first step user may have questions about the request for the user who submitted the request. To support this common situation, a "clarifications" step can be included in the workflow and assigned to the Originating User. Even though the request could have been submitted from any one of hundreds of possible users, the workflow will correctly route the clarification question back to the particular user who submitted (originated) the workflow.

Assign Step To: "Users from Step n"

The particular users selected and assigned in one step from a list of Variable Users may be required to perform another set of tasks at a subsequent step in the workflow. Since the users at the first step are variable, they are not known until the workflow proceeds. To handle this situation, another special type of variable user assignment has been enabled to assign the users at one step that were the specified (assigned) users from a previous step.

For example in the previously described engineering change request, a particular Designer was selected and assigned to make CAD revisions (from a list of many variable users) in Step 4, titled as "CAD Changes" step. After the revisions are complete, the updated CAD file is routed by the workflow to department managers for review where additional changes are required. To handle this situation, the workflow is configured with a second "CAD Changes" step and assigned to use "Users from Step 4". In this way, the same user that performed the initial CAD changes is asked to make additional changes to the CAD file(s).

About eQuorum

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, eQuorum delivers comprehensive, integrated Internet software solutions for the management, distribution, collaboration and printing of technical documents. eQuorum solutions are used both within an organization as well as with its affiliates, customers and vendors in a variety of industries including manufacturing, utilities, architecture, engineering, construction, and government agencies. eQuorum provides a complete business solution including software, consulting and training services, and implementation assistance to help customers quickly realize the productivity benefits of their solutions. For additional information regarding eQuorum's products and services, please call 404.497.8100 or visit the company web site at www.equorum.com

ImageSite, Plot Station, and eQuorum are registered trademarks of eQuorum Corporation. Other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.